Attendance has been a challenge for many teams this season, particularly with in the hazy days of Omicron winter. Grey and Brown barely had a full SDFHL roster between them, with each suiting up just six for an important midseason meeting. Grey came away with the long straw in the short bench duel, getting goals from Tomas Jankovic in the second, then Marc Lapointe and Mark DeGraffenreid in the third, to glide to a 3-0 win over ‘Wrister Brownstone’. Chris Tran deflected a ho-hum half dozen shots to earn the shutout win, and push Captain Pynn’s pride and joy back to .500, while Nick Vacchio suffered the loss with a 10/13 line. The win keeps Grey in solid position to slide into the playoffs, with just three games remaining on their schedule. Brown has four games remaining, but they need wins, and they need them now. They will start the push to improve their 1-5-0 record in the ‘Pink v Stink’ early game this Sunday.

Red has ridden their superstar’s resurgence to a 3-3-1 record, capturing their second straight post-bye week win, this time over Black, on the back of Jon Salt’s third hat trick of the season. The ‘other Jon’, Zygelman, had Red on the board first, followed by a pair of Salt shakes to build the lead to 3-0. Black actually seemed to carry most of the play/pressure, but Chris Tran held the Black attack at bay until late in the second, when the first of two Jeff Anderson tallies negated an earlier Vance Morra strike. When I tell you that this Anderson goal was awe-inspiring, I am doing it no justice. This was…one of hardest, most ridiculous shots I have ever seen…a turn around, blue line, mach four slap shot with two feet of right to left curve to find the dustiest corner of the cookie jar shelf over Tran’s shoulder…truly, and completely ridiculous. Sadly for Black, such a museum quality goal counts just the same as the garbage time empty-netter that Salt deposited in the final minute of play to bring us to the 5-2 final score (Anderson scored a short-handed feathery far side backhand to account for the other Black goal earlier in the third). The climb to .500, and the addition of Min-Soo Smith to replace the injured Troy Ohlsson seems to have Captain Chad Goins and his crew strutting a bit. The loss drops Black to 2-3-1, still riding right above the cut line with four games left to go in their schedule.

The big Green v Purple showdown was finally upon us in Week Eight. Unfortunately, the much-anticipated matchup with tinged with truancy, as both teams did their best to press on in the absence of key players. The underdogs came out on top this time, as Purple stunned and shut out previously unbeaten Green, 3-0. The result was largely down to the goalie matchup, as Alex Theis was ri-goddamn-diculous in nets for the victors, stopping 26/26, while Chuck Bender struggled to fill Nick Meglich’s unscuffed shoes at the other end, stopping 17/19 in the loss. It was a banner day for Purple’s young guns, with Matt Rogers netting the game-winner on the powerplay late in the second, and adding an empty netter to ice things in the late going. Luke Wolmer was a frenetic, forechecking force, as well assisting on Rogers’ first, and Justin Stege’s insurance tally that doubled the Purple lead going into the third. These two teams remain atop the standings, although things are a little cozier now, with just one point separating the leaders going into the final turn of the regular season.

Captain Joshi’s Pink picked up two big points, and a head of steam at the expense of Cream in Week Eight. Patrick Walker maintained his team lead in goals with his fifth of the season, and Jim LaGrossa and Carl Vankoughnett each did double damage as Pink cruised to a 5-2 win over a listless and lifeless Cream. Ian Crooks and Matt Gottfried accounted for the only dents in Sean Kelly’s 24/26 winning turn, while Steve Deppensmith (14/18) suffered more slings and arrows in his fourth loss in six tries. Captain Joshi herself racked up two assists, giving her a very healthy 1 and 4 stat line through six games, and helping bump her team to a 3-2-1 record. As with Brown, Cream will need to find a way to start winning games…like now. They take on a rebuilt and refocused Grey in the late game this Sunday. Pink will look to keep their playoff push pulsing against the down, and very-nearly-out Brown in the Week Nine opener.

If you don’t yet know the name Eric Herrmann, you’re going to want to learn it…and fear it. The Herrmannator got off to a quiet start for Orange in his inaugural season, but the man is now a full blown monster, and not the cutesy kind from The Muppets or Monsters, Inc. Fresh off a Week Seven EIGHT spot (five goals, three assists), Herrmann racked up another four and one to carry Orange past Blue, 7-4. His first and second gave Orange a two goal lead, which Alan Razoky cut in half late in the first. Mark Nagy knotted the score early in the second, but then it was Herrmann again, then his right hand man/sudden super sniper, Kevin Dinino, to build back the two goal edge going into the third. Andrew Jacobsen halved the lead early in the final frame, but Herrmann restored the margin with the game-winner–his fourth of the night. Steph Palomo Schmidt collected her first goal of the season to tighten things again, but it was Dinino again to make it 6-4, and an Eric Willard empty-netter to seal the 7-4 deal for the team with a peel. Herrmann sits alone atop the stats slate with 11 and 6 in just five games (!). That’s impressive, for sure, but…I might be at least as impressed by the season that Kevin Dinino is having. The old, weathered war horse (apparently) still has plenty of zing in his shot, and pep in his step, having racked up 8 and 4 in six games to keep pace with the older, slower Salt, with whom he shares the silver spot on the stats podium. Orange’s 3-2-1 has them sitting in the middle of the pack, but they are definitely a team to watch, for more reasons than one…

Goins ‘N’ Roses scored their first hit on the charts, as ‘Sean Bon Joshi’ met the reborn to be wild Jon Bon Salty in Week Four. Salt picked up where he left off in Week Three, putting Red out front 1-0 with his fifth of the season. Patrick Walker popped back with a highlight reel coast to coast cash-in, but Salt responded…twice…to build the lead to 3-1. A late Carl Vankoughnett response kept the tension thick to the end, but Red would hold on to capture their first win of the season, 3-2 over Pink. Salt’s surge has yielded seven goals in two games, and it should be noted that the Week Four hat trick came against Sean Freaking Kelly. We’d have to spend a few hours with the record books to see if there are any other instances of Kelly having a hat hung on him…I doubt there are many/any others. Andrew Lockard picked up his first win of the season with a 21/23 showing, and both Pink and Red now find themselves in the gooey three point center of the standings going into the final games of 2021.

Grey v Purple…nothing to see here. Literally, there is nothing to report. Well, no goals to report…Grey did rack up three penalties….that do anything for you? I hope you had the under on this one, as heavy underdog, Grey, got a boost from London Peters’ replacement, Kevin Wilkinson. Wilkinson was the shot in the arm that Grey needed, but all of the whopping nine shots they mustered hit Sean Kelly’s arm, or leg, or glove, or some other body part. Kelly followed his rough ride against Red with a 9/9 shutout, while Andrew Lockard was much busier, and as good with a 20/20 no-no. Yes…different game, same goalie matchup…fewer goals. The 0-0 tie is certainly a moral victory for Grey, who earn their third point in the standings, in spite of having scraped and struggled to find a mere three goals in four games. For Purple, they are no longer ‘perfect’, but still unbeaten, and still sitting pretty just below Green at the top of table.

Goals and assists were back in fashion in the third game of the night…particularly goals and assists from dudes named Eric. Eric Herrmann broke the scoring seal for Orange in the early going, and had a pair of assists in the third….a period which saw Eric Willard score twice. Kevin Dinino continued his contract year contributions to cap the scoring for Captain Casey’s crew, but…White proved they also like to score. Julie Ott and Shawna Hamon had White out front 2-1 through two, and Mark Ennsmann and Glenn Pinto spoiled the Eric & Eric show with two strikes just forty-six ticks apart to bring the slugfest to a 4-4 stalemate. Nick Meglich (19/23) and Don Tran (21/25) absorbed all of the blows, and left with a ‘T’ and sympathy. The point propels Orange into the middle of the mediocre mélange at 1-2-1, while White are ‘making the paper’ for all the wrong reasons, sitting at 0-3-1 going into a crucial matchup with basement buddies, Cream.

Malki Malki Malki! The family remains a force through four weeks of play with another win on the backs of the namesakes. Chris Malki scored both goals for Green, with lil’ Joe assisting on game-winner in the second. Nick Meglich’s shutout bid was spoiled only by a last minute marker from Brian Sheptycki. It was not just another win for Meglich (13/14), who leads all goalies in all categories this season, but it was a win in the ‘Battle Of The Nicks’. Nick Vacchio’s 15/17 made him the second best Nick in nets in the 2-1 loss, which leaves Brown in cut line town at 1-2-0, and keeps Green the team to beat at 4-0-0. It gets no easier for Brown in Week Five, with a powerful Purple poised to avenge their only non-win, and keep pace with the Malki boys going into the holiday break.

According to the old adage, the cream rises to the top. Captain Gattey is still waiting for his Cream team to embrace that credo, as so far they have only succeeded in sinking. Now, when you come to a gun fight, and find you left the bullets at home (Dan Jurgens, Matt Gottfried, Kaity Gottfried, Derek Baxter, Jerry Gonzales), it’s hard to see your way to survival. Black took full advantage of Cream’s short bench/absence of top-half-of-the-draft talent, building to 3-1 lead in the first on goals by Captain Nick Vacchio, Jeff Anderson, and Josh Tran. Tran’s tally would prove the game-winner, as Ty Pereira accounted for both Cream responses in the 4-2 loss. Rob Gaudio had built the lead to 4-1 prior to Pereira’s second, but it was two little, two late for Cream. Wayne Wong earned his second win of the season with a 9/11 turn, while Steve Deppensmith (12/16) and Cream sagged to 0-2-1. Cream v White is certainly the feature Week Five matchup…it’s beginning to look a lot like ‘do or die’ for both teams.

This cute little rocker is not just a nod to ‘Sweet Child O’ Malki’…for whom ‘It’s So Easy’ to knock off/nearly shut out powerhouse Blue, but also a reminder that this Sunday will be the second and final chance to donate new, and gently-used clothing for babies in need. Our Gently Hugged drive rolls on in Week Four…please help make a difference!

It really wasn’t ‘easy’ at all, but Green did outlast fellow unbeaten, Blue, in a beauty of a battle that came down to the final minute of play. Captain Karns’ ‘Mötley Blüe’ strode in with a scorching six-goals-per-game scoring pace, while Captain Joe Malki’s side had the same number of wins, but half the goals coming into the Week Three showdown. Alan Razoky kept his league-leading scoring tempo tuned in with his sixth of the season (as many as the combined team output for White and Grey) late in the first, with Vincent Santora providing the assist. Tyler Winstead accounted for the avenger for Green late in the second (from old man Malki), and Jet Javelet finished a Sadie Hellstrom helper to propel Green to an inspired 2-1 win with just 1:01 remaining. Both netminders faced their fair (and equal) share of shots, but Nick Meglich kept his perfect record intact with a 21/22 performance, while Chuck Bender (20/22) shouldered the late game stunner, smudging his previously perfect 2-0-0 mark. Green now sit with just Purple at their side atop the standings at 3-0-0.

Speak of the Purple, and the Purple appears…and they appeared to have no trouble at all handing White their third loss to start the season. Phirst year phenom, Cory Samuels, lit the lamp twice in the first, both on primary assists from Captain Zach, and a late period counter strike from Scott Wieland would be all that White could muster in response. Luke Wollmer padded the lead on the power play in the third, and Justin Stege added unnecessary insurance to produce the 4-1 winning formula for Purple over White. Purple are now a perfect 3-0-0, and Alex Theis was near perfect himself in the win (15/16). It’s a bit too early for undefeated v undefeated late season buzz, but…Purple v Green…Week Eight…get your tickets now.

Two teams who have struggled to score so far met in the middle game in Week Three. Grey was bested 2-1 in Week One, then sidled past Red 2-0 in Week Two. Pink hoped for more better than a 2-2 tie as they came off their bye, and they got just that against a woefully under-weaponized Grey. Patrick Walker tucked a ball between super sub Don Tran’s pads, and that ball managed to roll JUST over the goal line to give Pink the 1-0 lead at the halfway point. Jim LaGrossa scored a more conventional twine-tickling tally minutes later, but Walker’s one was already enough, as Pink prevailed 2-0. Sean Kelly once again earned his big paycheck for Pink, sprinkling a number of show-stoppers in with the standard saves in a 14/14 no-no notch. Grey have been without their first pick all season so far, and the lack of speed and scoring punch are very apparent. A Week Four meeting with Purple is not exactly what the doctored ordered…pray for this team! Or, do something that actually makes a difference in the world, like show up to play (*cough*London*cough*)…

Captain Joel Gattey’s ‘Creaming For Vengenace’ was…well…creaming (?) for vengeance in Week Three, after their Week Two debut was dampened by a 6-5 loss to Blue. Jerry Gonzales had Cream on the right track just over a minute in, but that was just the first teeter to an equal number of totters. The totters (ALL of them) were provided by a pent-up performance from last week’s front page punchline, Jon Salt. Salt accounted for all four Red responses, one for each of the pair of goals for Gonzales and Gottfried (Matt), securing POTW honors, and securing the first point in the standings for Red in the process. The 4-4 tie was a thriller for those looking on, but not so enjoyable for Cory Brin (19/23) and Steve Deppensmith (12/16)…although a non-loss is a non-loss, however crippling as it may be to your season stats. Speaking of season stats, Salt can finally show the player scoring slate to RJ with a twinkle of pride…just…you know…without scrolling up to see Uncle Zach’s numbers.

The nightcap was another back and forth affair, as Orange and Black traded blows (and a few choice words, as I understand it). Rob Gaudio got Black on the board first in the first, and Emily Bennington built the lead to two in the second. Kevin Dinino had himself a career night, starting with the first response from Orange in the second, then a pair to tie the game at three (after Josh Tran made it 3-1 Black early in the third). It is rare indeed that a hat trick is in vain, but Rob Gaudio made it so, notching the game-winning heartbreaker minutes later to cap a wild come-from-ahead 4-3 win for Black. Wayne Wong earned his first career SDFHL victory with a wobbly, but worthy 15/18, while Cory Brin absorbed his second loss in three outings with a 24/28 line. Orange will hope for the return of super stud, Eric Herrmann, in Week Four, as they face a winless White. Black take their sample platter start (1-1-1) out to face a dangerous, yet dragging Cream. This is the point in the season where you ‘have to win the games you expect to win’…we just don’t quite know yet who to ‘expect to win’ a given game at this stage…